Gut microbiota modulation by polysaccharide from Aloe gel: Potential prebiotic and targeted regulatory effects

The human gut microbiota has gained interest as a crucial factor contributing to health. Aloe gel polysaccharide (AGP) significantly impacts gut microbiota structure and function, yet its rule remains unclear. Here, we collected feces from 30 healthy volunteers and performed in vitro fermentation. We characterized the influence of AGP on gut microbiota using multi-omics analysis, identified key species, and conducted monoculture experiments to clarify their relationship with AGP. Firstly, AGP suppressed the potentially harmful bacteria and the accumulation of branched-chain fatty acids, p-cresol, and indole, while enriching potential beneficial bacteria and the accumulation of short-chain fatty acids. Moreover, AGP specifically enriched the proliferation of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Parabacteroides distasonis, and Bacteroides uniformis. Monoculture showed that AGP can be degraded by B. uniformis, not F. prausnitzii and P. distasonis. This work lifts a corner of AGP in modulating the gut microbiota, providing a reference for the development of AGP-based functional foods.